Apparatus for forming curved sections of hogsheads



March 15, 1955 R. 1 T. LARUS 2,704,097

APPARATUS FOR FORMING cuRvED SECTIONS oF HoGsHEADs FiledApril 2s, 1953 4 sneeuw-sheet 1 APPARATUS FOR FORMING .CURVED SECTIONS OF HOGSHEADS Filed April 28, 1955 March 15, 1955 R. L. T. LARUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 q INVENTOR floefi L. Traylorlarus BY MM www ATTORNEYl March 15, 1955 R, 1 T. LARUs APPARATUS FOR FORMING CURVED SECTIONS OF' HOGSHEADS Filed April 28, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNE YP' March l5, 1955 R. L. T. LARUs APPARATUS FOR FORMING CURVED SECTIONS OF' HOCSHEADS 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed April 28, 1955 GIZ INVENTOR lober L .Tra ylorLdruS United States vPatent O APPARATUS FOR FORMING CURVED SECTIONS F HOGSHEADS Robert L. T. Larus, Richmond, Va., assignor to Larns & Brother Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Virginia Application April 28, 1953, Serial No. 351,616

8 Claims. (Cl. 147-3) The present invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for constructing the curved detachable sections of cylindrical containers.

An important object is to provide a simple, efficient and economical apparatus for conveniently assembling the wooden staves so that they may be connected together to form the curved sections of the side walls of hogsheads, barrels and similar containers used for transporting tobacco and other light, bulky material.

Another object comprehends the provision of an adjustable supporting frame for forming the staves into curved barrel or hogshead sections so as to form collapsible containers of different diameters and of varying lengths and dimensions. j

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying claims and drawgReferring to the drawings in which is shown a preferred embodiment the invention may assume.

Figure 1 is a perspective view with parts in section of a supporting frame or jig for forming barrel or hogshead sections in accordance with Vthe present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end view of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the apparatus similar to Figure 3 but with the staves and chains removed.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7 7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective viewwith parts in section of a part of the frame assembly.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 9 9 of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 10-10 of Figure 3, and

Figure 1l is a detail perspective view of an assembled section of a hogshead constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, 12 indicates a metal supporting frame or jig which is shown rectangular but which obviously may be of any suitable size and shape as the particular operating conditions may require. The frame 12 includes the transverse end angle bars 13 (Fig. .1) to which are connected the spaced parallel side bars 14. The frame is supported at its ends by the legs connected to the transverse bars 13 and which may be reinforced by the brace members 16. The side bars 14 are preferably formed in sections and each may comprise a long section 17 and a short adjustable section 18 (Fig. 7). Each of the sections 18 has an elongated longitudinally disposed slot 19 through which extends a bolt 20' carried by the section 17 so as to permit lengthwise adjustment of the frame in order to form sections of various lengths.

Extending upwardly from the frame 12 adjacent the ends thereof are the curved or arcuately-shaped metal heads 21 which may be connected to the transverse end bars 13 by the angle brackets 22 and the bolts 22 (Fig. 1). Each of the heads 21 is provided with a reduced inwardly disposed curved shoulder 23 (Fig. 7) that provides a stave segmental supporting ledge or flange 24 that extends from one end to the other of the head 21 and which is arranged to removably receive a wooden curved liner 25 to which the ends of the stave are permanently connected during the assembling operation. In order to prevent lateral or inward displacement of the liner when carried by the heads 21, circumferentially spaced spring lingers 26 are connected to the inner sides of the heads 21 by bolts 27. Each of the fingers 26 is normally urged in engagement with a liner by an auxiliary bolt 28 (Fig. 9) between which and the finger is confined a coil spring 29 that yieldably maintains the finger in contact with the liner so as to prevent lateral or transverse displacement of the same relative to the head during the assembling operation. Between the heads 21 are preferably disposed a pair of curved fiat straps or members 30 of the same size and shape as the heads 21 and which coact therewith to support the staves 31 (Fig. 7) as the latter are built up on the frame to form the assembled wall of each of the curved or semi-circular sections such as shown in Figure 11 and indicated by the numeral 32.

Associated with each of the side bars 17 of the frame is an elongated substantially angle-shaped stave supporting member 33 positioned between the ends 21 and preferably spaced therefrom so as to receive the bottom or lower staves such as 34 (Fig. l) which are initially applied when building up a hogshead or barrel section from a plurality of staves. Each of the longitudinally disposed supporting members 33 is preferably provided with spaced depending angle bars 35 having vertically spaced openings 36 for receiving a retaining bolt 37 so as to adjustably connect the supporting member 33 to the adjacent side bar 17. It will be seen that by reason of the vertical adjustment of the stave supporting member 33, that means are provided for varying the height and diameter of the walls of the sections that constitute the hogshead so that a single apparatus may be used to form curved sections of varying dimensions and in accordance with the particular purpose or use to which the container is to be applied.

To the inner side of the heads 21 are connected the longitudinally extending and circumferentially spaced angle irons 38 (Fig. 4) in any suitable manner, such as by the threaded bolts 39. The curved straps 30 have extending inwardly and radially thereof the bars or members 40 which may be welded as at 41 to the straps and also welded to the vertical arms of the angle bars 3S at 41 so as to rigidly maintain the parts of the frame or former 12 in a fixed position.

The curved lower ends of each of the heads 21 has A connected to the outer surface thereof a curved retaining plate or member 42 having spaced transversely disposed slots 43 for receiving the threaded bolts 44 which lit into correspondingly formed threaded openings in each of the heads 21 so as to permit lateral movement of each of the plates 42 in order to move the same so as to overlap the adjacent ends of the lower or bottom staves 34 and be moved laterally away therefrom to permit the removal of these staves when properly applied to the frame or jig 12. The plates 42 are of such a length as to extend upwardly a limited distance on the head 21 so as to overlap the staves adjacent the sides of the frame and serve to temporarily maintain these staves in a fixed position prior to fastening them to the wooden liners 25 when the staves extend completely around the heads 21. In order to prevent circumferential displacement of the liners 25 when applied to the ledges 24, each liner may rest on a supporting plate or block 45 (Fig. 6) to prevent accidental rotary displacement of the liners when positioned on the frame to be connected to the staves.

Spaced flexible members such as the chains 46 (Fig. 1) may be each connected at one end as at 47 to a coil spring 48, which in turn is connected as at 49 to a horizontal bar 50 that extends inwardly from the leg 15 and which may be connected to a brace arm 51 connected in any suitable manner such as by welding or the like to a leg 15. The opposite end of each of the chains 46 is releasably connected to a hook portion 52 of a clamping lever 53, which is pivoted as at 54 to a side 17 of the frame so that upon connection of the chain to the lever andthe moving of the latter downwardly, the chain will force the staves 31 firmly against the liners prior to the nailing operation. The springs 48 act to prevent breakage of the staves and insures a snug tit of the staves in the heads preparatory to the nailing or fastening of the staves to the liners 25.

Each of the staves may be fastened to the liners by the nails 55 which are of such a length as to be bent over against the ledges 24 when applied (Fig. 9). The end portions of the straps 30 may be connected to the inclined brace arms 56 (Fig. 8) which are welded as at 57 to the side bars 17. The free ends of each of the straps 30 are arranged to extend loosely through vertically disposed openings 58 in the horizontal portion 59 of the supporting member 33 co as to permit raising or lowering of the member 33 relative to the frame 12 in order to vary the diameter and height of the hogshead section being formed by the staves.

In operation, assuming it is desired to construct the curved side wall or section 32 of a container such as a hogshead, barrel or the like, the frame is longitudinally adjusted to the proper length and maintained in this position by the clamping screws 20. The stave supporting members 33 are at the same time vertically moved to the proper height and diameter of the curved section to be formed and are maintained in a fixed adjusted position by the bolts 37. The chains 46 at this time, are in an outof-the-way position and free from engagement with the staves 31. The plates 42 on the heads 21 are moved inwardly toward each other so as to overlap their adjacent ledges 25 and thus provide a space for receiving the ends of the bottom staves to maintain them in a fixed position. The section 32 is formed by first building up the bottom staves 34 at each side of the frame so that they will extend completely around the heads 21 and engage the liners 25. It will be noted that the intermediate portion of the section is not provided with a retaining plate 42 since none is required to maintain these staves in position during the assembling operation. After the staves have been positioned on the ledges of the heads 21, the chains 46 which are connected at one side as at 49 to the frame, are wrapped around the assembled staves so as to firmly maintain them in a fixed position against the liners 25 and without danger of breaking the straps, when the clamping levers 53 are moved downwardly to the position as shown in Figure 4. The straps 42 which overlap the staves adjacent the sides of the frame, are now moved outwardly or away from the ends of the bottom staves 34 and as the assembled staves are maintained in a firm position by the chains, the staves are now connected to the liners 25 by suitable fastening means, such as the nails 55. It will be noted that the retaining plates 42 serve to temporarily hold or maintain the staves adjacent the sides 17 of the frame prior to the applying of the chains 46 and prior to nailing of the staves to the liners.

Thus it will be seen that simple, efficient and positive means are provided for forming the curved sections of the sides of walls of a hogshead, barrel or the like, which in its final form may be of semi-circular shape so as to intert and be connected to a similar formed section in order to provide a light, durable cylindrical container. The sections may also be readily dismantled and may be packed so as to occupy a minimum amount of space when being transported and prior to forming the hogsheads or barrels. Further, the jig by reason of its lengthwise and circumferential adjustments, may be used to form or build up hogshead sections of various sizes and dimensions in accordance with the particular type of bulky material to be handled. In other words, a single apparatus may readily be converted to form segmental sections for barrels and the like at a minimum expenditure of time, labor and cost.

It will be understood that the form of the invention shown is merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment and that such changes may be made as come within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for forming sections of hogsheads including a frame having arcuately shaped metal heads extending upwardly from the ends thereof, each of said heads being provided with an inwardly extending ledge adapted temporarily to support a curved wooden stave liner, longitudinally disposed stave supporting members connected to opposite sides of the frame for receiving and supporting the staves during the assembling operation, spaced retaining plates extending upwardly a limited distance from the ends of said heads so as to retain the staves adjacent the face of the frame temporarily in a fixed position during the assembling operation, means movably connecting each plate to a head so that the plate may be displaced laterally to overlap the adjacent end of a stave, flexible means connected to one side of the frame and arranged to be detachably connected to the opposite sides thereof, said flexible means engaging the outer surface of the staves for maintaining the latter firmly in engagement with said liner preparatory to fastening the staves to the liners, and fastening means for connecting the staves to the liners when the plates are moved away from the ends of the staves.

2. An apparatus for forming the section of hogsheads as called for in claim l, in which means are provided for preventing lateral displacement of the liners relative to the heads during the assembling operation.

3. An apparatus for forming the section of hogsheads as called for in claim l in which means are provided for longitudinally adjusting the frame so as to form sections of varying lengths and in which means are provided for varying the diameter of the sections built up on the apparatus.

4. An apparatus for forming the section of hogsheads as called for in claim l in which means are provided for vertically adjusting each of the longitudinally disposed stave supporting members so as to vary the diameter of the sections.

5. An apparatus for connecting the sections of hogsheads of varying sizes including an adjustable frame having side bars and transverse end bars, each of the side bars being provided with longitudinally adjustable sections, curved metal heads extending upwardly from the ends of said frame, each of said heads having an inwardly extending ledge adapted temporarily to support a curved wooden removable liner, longitudinally spaced curved stave supporting straps between said heads and connected to the sides of said frame, each of said straps having free depending end portions extending outwardly from the side bars of the frame, a longitudinally disposed elongated stave supporting member connected to each of the side bars, means for vertically adjusting each of the stave supporting members relative to the frame, each of said stave supporting members having a vertical opening through which extends a free end of one of the supporting straps so as to allow vertical movement of the longitudinal supporting member relative to the frame, and means for fastening the staves to the wooden liners so as to form an assembled hogshead section.

6. An apparatus for forming the sections of hogsheads as called for in claim 5 in which each of said heads has circumferentially spaced curved retaining plates movably mounted thereon and arranged to overlap the ends of the staves adjacent the side bars for temporarily maintaining the staves in position.

7. An apparatus for forming the sections of hogsheads as called for in claim 5 including spaced flexible means yieldably connected to one side of the frame and arranged to be detachably connected to the opposite side, said flexible means engaging the outer surface of the staves prior to fastening the staves to the liners.

8. An adjustable frame of the class described including side bars and transverse end bars, each of the side bars having longitudinally adjustable sections, means for maintaining the sections in a fixed adjusted position, longitudinally spaced curved supporting members extending upwardly from the frame, each of said curved supporting members having free depending end portions, longitunally disposed supporting members connected to the side bars, and means for vertically adjusting the longitudinal supporting members relative to the frame, each of the longitudinal supporting members having vertical openings through which extends a free end of one of the curved supporting members so as to allow vertical movement and adjustment of the longitudinal supporting members relative to the frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 533,034 Campbell Jan. 22, 1895 1,475,305 McClenny Mar. 14, 1922 1,716,801 Smith Apr. 2, 1928 2,230,445 Barkley, Jr. Apr. 4, 1938 

